This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
The regular season is finally upon us, and Week 1 depth charts appear mostly set. The preseason finale and subsequent roster cuts helped sort out the last of the job battles, but injuries – including a big season-ending one over the last few days -- are certainly still playing a part in the fantasy trajectory of multiple players. With plenty to pore over as we speed towards the regular-season openers, let's dive right in!
Trending Up
Quarterback
Nathan Peterman, Bills: The long, yet somewhat underwhelming, Bills quarterback battle finally came to a conclusion Monday, as Peterman was named the victor over first-round pick Josh Allen to start the season. His name is seemingly forever tainted by his unforgettable five-interception half last season, but Peterman was actually otherwise serviceable in 2017 and turned in a solid preseason overall this summer. It remains to be seen how much support he'll have in the air attack – given that the pass-catching corps is shaky beyond Kelvin Benjamin, Charles Clay and LeSean McCoy – but Allen looks like he still needs a fair share of seasoning, meaning Peterman could hold onto the job for an extended period if he proves competent.
Sam Darnold, Jets: Darnold was the second signal caller to officially get the starting nod for Week 1 on Monday, although his starting role had been telegraphed once he was held out of last Thursday's preseason finale. Much like Peterman, Darnold has a relatively shallow arsenal of weapons
The regular season is finally upon us, and Week 1 depth charts appear mostly set. The preseason finale and subsequent roster cuts helped sort out the last of the job battles, but injuries – including a big season-ending one over the last few days -- are certainly still playing a part in the fantasy trajectory of multiple players. With plenty to pore over as we speed towards the regular-season openers, let's dive right in!
Trending Up
Quarterback
Nathan Peterman, Bills: The long, yet somewhat underwhelming, Bills quarterback battle finally came to a conclusion Monday, as Peterman was named the victor over first-round pick Josh Allen to start the season. His name is seemingly forever tainted by his unforgettable five-interception half last season, but Peterman was actually otherwise serviceable in 2017 and turned in a solid preseason overall this summer. It remains to be seen how much support he'll have in the air attack – given that the pass-catching corps is shaky beyond Kelvin Benjamin, Charles Clay and LeSean McCoy – but Allen looks like he still needs a fair share of seasoning, meaning Peterman could hold onto the job for an extended period if he proves competent.
Sam Darnold, Jets: Darnold was the second signal caller to officially get the starting nod for Week 1 on Monday, although his starting role had been telegraphed once he was held out of last Thursday's preseason finale. Much like Peterman, Darnold has a relatively shallow arsenal of weapons around him, but he's in slightly better shape given the more proven nature of his receiving corps. The lack of a reliable tight end option and Jermaine Kearse's current abdomen injury may be a hindrance early, but what should be a solid running game and a trusted outlet option in Bilal Powell will help complement a top receiver quartet of Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Terrelle Pryor, and eventually, Kearse.
Nick Foles, Eagles: His starting tenure isn't expected to last long, and he'll also be working without Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) in Thursday's opener at a minimum. However, Foles shouldn't be overlooked given his performance last season in Carson Wentz's stead, as well as the fact the Eagles still sport an assortment of other strong passing-game weapons. Consequently, Foles makes for an intriguing option as long as he's under center.
Running Back
Alfred Morris / Matt Breida, 49ers: The top two San Francisco backs earn a joint entry thanks to the season-ending injury to Jerick McKinnon, as both should be in for sizable workloads in the coming season. While neither will be confused for either Tevin Coleman or Devonta Freeman, it does bear keeping in mind the success that Kyle Shanahan had as the Falcons offensive coordinator in 2016 splitting touches among both of those talented players. Morris and Breida bring different skill sets, but each should be in a position to produce throughout the season, irrespective of how the workload is divided.
Royce Freeman, Broncos: The recent rumblings about Devontae Booker opening the season as the starting running back over Freeman never made much sense to anyone who watched both play this preseason, and the latter has now been confirmed as the No. 1 option heading into Week 1. Freeman averaged 5.6 yards per tote and scored three touchdowns overall during the exhibition slate, and a 60-touchdown tally over four seasons at Oregon speaks to his nose for the end zone. Booker will still see a bulk of third-down work due to his pass-catching skills, but it appears early downs will largely be Freeman's domain to open 2018.
James Conner, Steelers: I'm not ready to say Le'Veon Bell is trending down, as he's still more likely than not to report to the team at some point this week. However, after a complete absence of any on-field work this summer, the multi-time Pro Bowler looks destined for a limited role in Week 1 at minimum. Normally, a projected one-game boost wouldn't be enough to thrust a player into a Trending Up category, but Conner's case is a bit different. He was already expected to see a nice bump in 2018 from the paltry 32 carries he logged last season, given his considerable talent level. That looks like it will happen right from the jump due to Bell's situation, and an elevated workload to some degree wouldn't be out of the question over the first several weeks while Bell fully gets back to game shape.
Jordan Wilkins, Colts: When Marlon Mack first hurt his hamstring several weeks ago, we noted that given the nature of soft-tissue injuries, it was very plausible the situation could linger into the start of the regular season. That's now come to fruition to an extent, as Mack was unable to practice Monday ahead of Sunday's opener against the Bengals. He's yet to be ruled out and could well be a game-time decision, but there seems to be little doubt Wilkins will enjoy an elevated role in Week 1 at a minimum. The rookie seemed to have clearly pulled ahead of fellow draftee Nyheim Hines due to the latter's fumbling issues this preseason, and Wilkins should therefore see the bulk of the workload versus Cincinnati out of the gate.
Wide Receiver
Phillip Dorsett, Patriots: Dorsett doesn't exactly have the regular-season body of work to inspire much confidence, but we're about to find out if some Tom Brady Fairy Dust can change all that. Dorsett is set to open the season as the No. 2 receiver behind Chris Hogan with Julian Edelman suspended the first four games, which should give the former Colt plenty of opportunities to stretch the field. Dorsett has averaged over 16 yards per grab each of his last two seasons, so the big-play upside is undoubtedly there.
Mike Wallace, Eagles: Like Dorsett, Wallace slides up a notch on the depth chart to open the season, as Jeffery's recovery from rotator cuff surgery is projected to keep him out for at least the first two games. Wallace was already a sneaky fantasy option as a projected No. 3 option in what should be a prolific passing offense when Wentz returns to full health, but his stock sees an additional boost to open the season.
Cameron Meredith, Saints: Meredith was headed in the wrong direction just a couple of weeks ago, as his recovery from last season's knee surgery appeared to be going slowly. However, the third-year wideout made significant strides over the latter half of the preseason, returning to practice on a more consistent basis and then logging a pair of receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown in last Thursday's exhibition finale. The fact that Meredith managed a 56-yard reception in the contest was especially encouraging, as it seemingly corroborated the health of his knee. Meredith is listed as the No. 3 receiver on the depth chart to open the season, edging impressive rookie Tre'Quan Smith for the time being. Considering he'll work with an elite quarterback, Meredith has a chance to surprise if his health endures.
Tight End
George Kittle, 49ers: The 49ers were extremely cautious with Kittle during the preseason after he suffered a separated shoulder in the exhibition opener, holding him out the rest of the way. However, he returned to practice in full capacity Monday as planned, setting him up for a Week 1 start versus the Vikings. Given the stingy nature of the Minnesota corners, Kittle could see a big role right out of the gate in what's already expected to be a breakout campaign.
Trending Down
Quarterback
Josh McCown, Jets: The 39-year-old lost out on the starting job to Darnold this preseason, and barring injury to the rookie, McCown looks destined for a season on the sidelines. Naturally, he could see the field in a "break glass in case of emergency" situation if Darnold is completely melting down, but otherwise, McCown looks firmly set for a mentor role this season.
Running Back
Marlon Mack, Colts: As mentioned earlier in Wilkins' entry, Mack is stuck in limbo at present due to his multi-week hamstring injury. The fact it's lingered since the opening week of the preseason isn't necessarily surprising, but it's nevertheless concerning for his early-season prospects. Not only is the chance of re-injury always going to be a possibility with a hamstring issue, but Mack's workload could be somewhat limited even when he initially returns to the field. Furthermore, if Wilkins makes a strong impression in a potential Week 1 starting role, it could change the dynamic of the Colts backfield moving forward.
Samaje Perine, Redskins: Two weeks ago, Perine looked set for a potential No. 1 running back role in the wake of Derrius Guice's season-ending knee injury. Then, future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson landed in the Nation's Capital and turned the entire situation upside down with one impressive preseason outing. Peterson ultimately earned the No. 1 running back job to open the regular season, while Perine saw himself slide all the way down to No. 4 on the initial depth chart after the Redskins somewhat surprisingly decided to keep Rob Kelley. For the time being, Perine projects for minimal work, considering that Peterson and Kelley appear set for all early-down touches while Chris Thompson (leg) fills his customary pass-catching role.
Jay Ajayi, Eagles: Although he still sits atop the running back depth chart, Ajayi's current health status is becoming more and more concerning. The fifth-year back hadn't practiced since Aug. 19 due to a foot issue until returning in limited fashion Monday. Given the nature of the injury, the relatively restricted workload that Ajayi saw last season after his arrival via trade from Miami (single-digit carries in four of seven regular-season games) and the fact that talented second-year back Corey Clement was already set to muscle in on Ajayi's touches this season, his outlook to start the campaign is on the dimmer side.
Wide Receiver
Travis Benjamin, Chargers: Benjamin has almost been the forgotten man in the Chargers' receiving corps this summer, given the attention heaped on Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams (foot) and last year's seventh overall pick Mike Williams. The latter Williams is particularly expected to take a major leap forward in his second season after being limited by a back issue to open his rookie campaign, a development that could significantly affect Benjamin's opportunities. Furthermore, Benjamin already saw a 10-target drop in 2017 over that of his first Chargers season, despite playing in two additional games.
Tajae Sharpe, Titans: Sharpe appeared to have a shot of garnering the No. 3 role earlier in the preseason, and he was even getting first-team work early on while Rishard Matthews was held out with what was eventually revealed to be a torn meniscus. However, Matthews is back in the fold and on track to start Week 1, while the Titans have also listed Taywan Taylor ahead of Sharpe on the initial version of the regular-season depth chart. That relegates the 2016 fifth-round pick to the No. 4 role for the moment, dampening his overall outlook.
